Comicdom's Tortured Souls

Comicdom's Tortured Souls

My Top Ten list of the most drama-ridden comic book heroes...

Feature Opinion
By airbeyonder18 - Jun 01, 2011 05:06 PM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: ComicBookMovie.com

There are many Heroes in Comic Books that have had to endure very hard times. Times that have left scars that noone thought anyone could bear. Here is my Top Ten.

10. Beast

Basically this bright mutant scientist, Hank Mccoy, decides to mess around with some chemicles, altering his appearance. Beast has been a strong force in the fight for human/mutant prosperity, but longs to be human more than ever.



9. Mr. Fantastic

Scientist, Reed Richards, decides to launch a spaceship into outer space with his 3 faithful companions but unexpectedly, thier ship is hit my radiation that alters their very lives. Reed feels responsible for the mutation and for Ben Grimm's (The Thing) early misery. To make the 4 of them not seem like mutated freaks, Reed decides to make themselves Superheroes so they can be looked upon with amazement instead of horror and disgust.


8. Rogue

A mutant born with the ability to take away a mutant's powers as well as their life force by touching them. Rogue has constantly struggled with the fact that every time she touches a person with her bare skin, she could hurt or kill someone.


7. Deadpool

Guy underwent Weapon X program while having terminal cancer. Healing ability went crazy causing physical scars and serious neurological problems. Bumer.


6. Martian Manhunter

Sole survivor of Mars, Widower, Fatherless, Homeless. This guy escaped the last days of Mars's civilization and found refuge on Earth with the help of a scientist. As a champion for his new world, MM fights for peace hoping his new home never face the same fate of his old world.


5. Aquaman

The King of Atlantis has had his fair share of horrors. Losing his arm, his son, the list doesn't seem to end for this guy.


4. Spiderman

"With great power, comes great responsibility." The last words of Uncle Ben. Spiderman has lived a life of pain and struggle (possibly more than anyone else). Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, deaths Spiderman has blamed himself for, burdens that he carries as he walks the journey of a hero.


3. Wolverine

Having no memory of who he is and while among friends, The Adamantium Slasher has lived a complicated life. He has had his memory wiped, his adimantium torn out of him, and lost many lovers. A man destined to wander in a life of violence and lonliness.


2. Bruce Banner/The Hulk

After being struck with gamma radiation, Bruce Banner's life changed, but not for the best. He has been running from Governments that all want his inner power. He has caused all kinds of destruction making himself the most wanted man. And to top all of that his arch nemesis killed the only one who cared for him even though he was a man AND a monster. (Sure glad she didn't stay dead)


1. Batman

Everyone knows the story(Hopefully). A young boy stripped of his innocence that eventually led to a jouney that made him one of the most iconic legends of all time. But that doesn't come with losses. He has lost friends and family. He blames himslef for taking Jason Todd under his wing that eventually led to his death. He has had many relationships that have never lasted (Until Selina) He always tried to distance himslef from everyone else, fearing if he ever lost them the pain would be too great to bear. He is a man with a broken heart, a man who has lost his childhood, his innocence, his parents.











Airbeyonder
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superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 6/1/2011, 5:55 PM
I pretty much agree with this list but you should have put the Punisher as number 2 or maybe even 1. Ben Grimm is also a good one to add to this list or maybe even Ghost Rider or Daredevil. There a lot of people you missed but good list.
golden123
golden123 - 6/1/2011, 6:24 PM
@TheGODDAMNSUPERGUY: LOL, that's exactly why he deserves to be on this list.

Honestly, I think The Hulk has it worse off then Batman. More importantly, I think the fact that their all Superheroes is reason enough for them to look past being tortured (like may of them do). Alot of them are well respected due to their feats. I say they have lost something of value only to gain something else. The scale is balanced the way I see it.
BigK1337
BigK1337 - 6/1/2011, 6:30 PM
@TheGODDAMNSUPERGUY
He is the king of Atlantis, which means he has alot of responsibilities to deal with; adding the fact that he is dealing with many problems like facing the fact that his son is killed by his arch nemisis, his wife is sent to the insane asylum, and him losing his arm. And adding the fact that many people view him useless in spite of incredible powers. So yeah, Aquaman is a tortured soul here.

manymade1
manymade1 - 6/1/2011, 6:38 PM
I pretty much agree with all this except for Deadpool, mainly because he's so crazy it's impossible to make him depressed or mad.
BrotherQStark
BrotherQStark - 6/1/2011, 6:55 PM
Does Batman have to win everything

[frick] Batman
luckylu
luckylu - 6/1/2011, 7:24 PM
i would personally have to put spidey as number 1. i mean thats pretty much his thing
marvelguy
marvelguy - 6/2/2011, 3:13 AM
How about Spawn, Silver Surfer, Cyclops (every time he turns around his love is being killed/reborn), and Howard the Duck (no explanation needed)?
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 6/2/2011, 4:25 AM
Not a bad list. One hero hardly ever mentioned who deserves a spot there is Penance (aka Speedball), member of the New Warriors. Just read this from Marvel Wiki...

"The New Warriors encountered Nitro, Speedfreek, Cobalt Man, and Coldheart and during the battle that followed Nitro used his power and caused a massive explosion killing the New Warriors and almost everyone around that area for an unknown distance. Speedball was seemingly killed during this explosion and was later ridiculed by TV talk show hosts.
Speedball was later found alive (albeit barely), his powers apparently burned out. The media and the authorities made him the scapegoat for the Stamford disaster, which had sparked widespread anti-superhero sentiment and prompted the passing of a law requiring superheroes to register with the authorities. The government decided to make an example of Robbie, holding him without bail or trial while he was abused repeatedly by both guards and fellow inmates. His secret identity leaked to the press, hated by the public, disowned by his parents after he refused to admit to any wrongdoing, Robbie was offered a deal: he would be released if he became a government-registered super-hero, helping train other super-agents and hunting down unauthorized super-heroes. Robbie turned down the deal repeatedly on principle and was later shot by vigilante Mr. Stricker, whose daughter had died at Stamford.

Narrowly surviving, Robbie soon discovered that he still had energy powers, but they were now fueled by his own physical pain, such as the near-constant pain of the bullet fragments lodged in his spine. Perhaps somewhat unhinged by this situation, and increasingly haunted

by guilt regarding his role in the Stamford disaster, Robbie agreed to register after foiling a jailbreak by several super-criminals, asking only that Stricker be pardoned in exchange for his registration. No longer caring about anything except making himself suffer, Robbie also agreed to become a hero-hunting government super-agent. He did so in his new guise as Penance, wearing an armored costume whose spikes constantly pierce his own flesh, augmenting both his pain and his power."

Now that is tortured! And I'm not just talking about his body. Being blamed for all those deaths and constantly abused when all you did was try to help. Losing your power that you have grown to rely on, then finding the only way you can have that power back is through constant pain.
Dynamo
Dynamo - 6/2/2011, 4:27 AM
Why is Mr Fantastic on the list again? Ben Grimm would've deserved it more, and even then he doesn't have it that bad.
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/2/2011, 5:38 AM
i'm surprised that daredevil & spider-man wasn't featured on your list.

but saying that a good list.
airbeyonder18
airbeyonder18 - 6/2/2011, 7:10 AM
@Dynamo: even though Ben is living as a monster, Reed is responsible for the way he looks.

@Marvel72: Look more carefully, Spidey IS on my list.
nuck82
nuck82 - 6/2/2011, 10:43 AM
lol good list but why do you have a pic of cyclops on the teaser? you tease you!!!
LuckyKyd
LuckyKyd - 6/4/2011, 8:30 AM
Great list, there was a lot who I didn't even think about.

But to be fair there is really a whole lot more who is just as if not more tortured.
And off course there is a reason for so many comicbook characters and superheroes being tortured. It makes for damn god stories!

If you have a superhero who is always on top of things and never tortured, sad or depressed in any way. It gets really hard to connect to that guy as person. Throw in some fear, guilt, rage or sadness and suddenly you got a more fledged out character with flaws and feelings that you can explore and connect to.

But still a great list dude :)
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